AARP Maryland Partners with the Asian American Center of Frederick for 9/11 National Day of Service

September is Emergency Preparedness Month, an annual reminder of the importance of disaster planning and preparedness. That is why AARP Maryland and the Asian American Center of Frederick (AACF) commemorated the 9/11 National Day of Service by preparing emergency “Go Bags” for distribution to frail and vulnerable seniors served by the center.

“Every year at AARP, we honor the memory of those we lost on September 11, 2001 by participating in the National Day of Service. We focus on activities that will directly benefit older Marylanders,” said David Conway, AARP Maryland state president. “While each family’s needs are unique, we would like to use this occasion to urge every family to have supplies and a plan in place in the event of power outage, evacuation order, road closures, and other unforeseen emergencies

“An emergency can happen any time of year. It’s important that we educate the public about the importance of planning ahead, especially where older adults are concerned,” Conway added.

Members of AARP Maryland’s staff and Executive Council, along with AACF staff and volunteers, assembled the kits before welcoming 80 community members for lunch and cultural programming, as well as a presentation by a representative from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA).

Each bag contains items such as a flashlight, trash bags, face masks, sanitizer and a first aid kit. Once packed, there will be enough room leftover for the recipient to add personal items such as clothing, medications, shoes and toiletries.

The bags will also include important information about emergency preparedness provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“We are extremely pleased with the cooperation we have received and the commitment to serving those who can benefit from this project,” Conway said.

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